Episode Four
997 Words
Aurora's POV
It has been a week since I saw Reid.
Colton's sudden appearance and our contract marriage seemed so rushed.
“Are you okay?” I heard him ask, his voice tinged with concern. I wasn't, though. I was already overthinking how things might turn out.
Alvin, my brother, couldn't make it to escort me to the event as he was out of the country rounding up a deal, but he'd be back soon to take me home. I pushed the thought aside and focused on us.
I hadn’t seen Reid yet, but I knew it was only a matter of time.
I was putting on a floor-length, strapless evening gown made of silk, in sapphire blue which was adorned with hand-beaded lace around the entire dress.
The dress hugged my body in all the right places, accentuating my curves. The ones Reid had called fat folds!
The sweetheart neckline did a perfect job in framing my face and as if it weren’t enough, it also came with a flowing train that cascaded down the back.
I had a lot to learn, especially when it came to handling paparazzi questions. When Colton had mentioned a partnership, I thought he was maybe running a small business.
But that wasn't the case. He had a highly recognized real estate and insurance companies abroad before returning to build his headquarters.
Colton's voice cut through my thoughts, “Are you okay?” I nodded, and his hands trailed down to my waist, his protective stance making me feel more at ease.
He knew I wasn't ready for the stress of the evening, and he carefully avoided any greetings that would require us to stand for too long.
We settled into our seats, and for a moment, I forgot about the chaos that had become my life. But the peace was short-lived as Reid's mother appeared out of nowhere, her face twisted in a scowl as she zeroed in on me.
“Aurora!” she exclaimed, her eyes judging my appearance before pausing at the glistening diamond on my neck.
“What are you doing here?” Her tone was laced with venom, and I could sense the hostility from her.
“Hello, Leslie,” I greeted curtly, my tone clipped. This only infuriated her more, but nothing could have prepared me for her reaction when she saw who sat beside me.
“COLT!” she exclaimed, her face reddening with rage before bursting into laughter.
“This is the reason you are yet to give me a grandchild? You were busy whoring around like a slut that you obviously are!”
She seemed well aware of the murmurs she was causing in the hall, and so was I.
“Of all people, it had to be him, my step-son? Your husband’s brother, you w***e!” she sneered. “You could have gone for someone with a higher position. How did you both even get an invitation?”
Colton's short command, “Spare yourself this disgrace and leave us,” only added fuel to her fury.
Once again, she began hurling insults at me, her face twisted in a snarl. “What the hell are you even doing here, huh?” she spat, turning to face Colton.
“Did you come here to watch your brother win? And worse still, you have the guts to come with his barren wife!”
“I knew I made the best decision when I threw you out,” she sneered. “You are a disgrace! Always have always been a bigger fool to think you ever stood a chance with my son!” She added, glaring at us.
“Why do you keep boasting of a son who can't secure anything on his own?” I asked, my voice heavy with sarcasm. “How can you be proud of a son who has nothing to his name? A son who abandoned his sick wife to pursue a fling with his best friend?”
“It isn’t his fault by the way, it’s his poor excuse for a mother that couldn’t flush away his unwanted self!”
My words hung in the air, and for a moment, Leslie was stunned into silence. Never in the four years I'd lived with her had I ever raised my voice or spoken back to her. Her shock was all over her face.
“Your son isn't the prize, woman!” I continued, my voice firm but controlled. “Get over yourself!”
Her face turned beet red with rage, and she reached out to slap me. But before she could make contact, Colton snapped his fingers, and I watched in amusement as she was roughly dragged out of the hall by his security team in a screaming fit.
I turned to Colton, impressed. “You can do that?” I asked, my eyes wide with surprise.
He chuckled softly.
Holding my gaze, he whispered, “There are countless things you don't know about me, sweetheart.”
My eyes caught a familiar redhead and I steeled, when I had agreed to do anything with Colton, I had thought I was steady to face Reid… I wasn’t.
Sarah hung beautifully by his side as they walked through, towards their seat I presume, which coincidentally was a table not too far from ours.
He flexed, obviously trying to make an impression, but his demeanor changed when he spotted us. His eyes narrowed, and he strode over, a sneer on his face.
But before he could reach us, Colton pulled me into a kiss, his lips warm and gentle. The room around us melted away, leaving only the two of us.
“What the f**k is going on here?!”
“You w***e! What the hell are you doing with my brother!” He moved to grab me and so did Colt, but he was thrown backwards by someone else.
“How dare you attempt to touch my granddaughter you filthy scum!"
- Writer
